A Tyneside man is facing prison after Border Force officers discovered 18kg of cannabis in his luggage at London Heathrow Airport. Shaun Heads, 40, of Arnold Street, Boldon Colliery, South Tyneside, was stopped after getting off a flight at Terminal 4 and his bag was searched.
Newcastle Magistrates' Court heard that Heads was found carrying the class B drug and arrested. He pleaded guilty last month to being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of a class B drug. The case was adjourned until this week, but Heads had been warned that the offence might be too serious for magistrates to finalise.
Phone messages reveal direction from others
Clare Haswell, prosecuting, said Heads was stopped at Heathrow on June 3, 2025. She told the court: "According to messages on the defendant's phone, it sounds like he was receiving direction from others within the chain to bring in the drugs. It's just over 18kg he was caught with. The Crown would say that this should be committed to the crown court for sentence as the starting point is 18 months in custody."
Gerry Armstrong, defending, agreed that the magistrates' powers of sentence were insufficient.
Committed to crown court
Heads was committed to Newcastle Crown Court to learn his fate and will next appear there on November 11. In the meantime, he was released on unconditional bail.
